Someone save this '70's 19" GE tube color set

[zenithfan1]

This one does have the AFC switch, but the only channel thats tuned is channel 2, which is actually channel 3. this is the only current way to use the VHF, the fine tuning just spins. UHF works fine. I just don't have the time to open up that tuner right now. Hopefully in the next week or so. It's funny you mention that big white cap, there was one that had sprayed it's guts out all over the back of the set.

[radiotvnut]

There's probably a broken gear causing your fine tuning problem. I've seen it several times on various brands of TV's.

in '97, I bought a bunch of '80's 19 GE motel sets that used the solid state "PC" chassis. All of the sets had those "fiddle free" knobs on the VHF and a "knock out" plug over the UHF tuner. The motel gave me a big box with the original knobs so that I could convert the TV's back for normal use. IIRC, the AFC was defeated when you pushed in the fine tuning knob to fine tune the channel. I bought 20 of those sets for $5 each and I think I fixed 19 of them. I had no trouble getting rid of them. I don't think I could do that today. IMHO, the "PC" was probably the best chassis GE ever made. About the only trouble it gave was bad caps in the vertical and power supply circuits.

[zenithfan1]

Thanks for the help everyone! I've been soldering like crazy! Found over five bad connections, one not soldered at all. And there is carbonizing in those pots, measured several hundred volts there. I take it this is the boost voltage. I'm workin' on two of 'em {19CD and 18CD} Those pots suck, they're the open type so there was also a ton of dust in there. After this part is done then it's time to tackle that tuner. I'll update when it's all done. Thanks again!

[zenithfan1]

Between work, snow and life in general I finally got the time to work on some sets this weekend, one of which is the '75 GE from ebay. I took the tuner apart and cleaned and lubed each contact individually so there is no "bad channel" when all the others work fine. I hate when people blindly spray cleaner into a tuner getting everything but the contacts, I see a lot of that, also causes drifting. Fixed the fine tuning, the spring was a little strong for the unit and the assembly was a little stuck. Cleaned up nice and all
I had to do was stretch the spring slightly, works flawlessly now on all channels. I also replaced the broken VHF antennas, This was a pain! Literally, I accidentally stabbed myself with the broken antenna when removing it. I had to make three trips to the store to find the one that would work! The GE replacements and the "universal" ones would not fit, the ball was too small. Oddly, the ones that worked and the last ones I tried were for a Sears TV!, or the ones for japanese made sets! Anyways, they are replaced and look nice. This set has now ben run for over 8 hours now without one flinch, snowy spot, buzzing sound or problem whatsoever. I've noticed that any project of mine isn't done until I am cussing and/or bleeding! The best projects have all ended this way!!LOL! My other project consisted of a '60 Zenith HI-FI table radio{off subject,sorry!} I found sitting in the aisle-way of an antique store I went to with the family this weekend. It is fun to go back to the basics once in a while, AND this is one of my favorite Zenith radio models, I HAD to save it!{ I also noticed that even radios are getting real hard to find} I fixed the broken dial string{ reused the copper rings for originality, see pic} and detail cleaned the whole thing. The only thing wrong with it now is a water stain on the top, I'll probably just have to live with that. Years ago I would have probably passed on it because of that stain. Now I take 'em no matter what!